Messari: Solana evolving from memecoin chain to institutional finance hub

Blockchain analytics firm Messari said in a report that Solana (SOL) is evolving from its memecoin-centric image into an infrastructure for tokenized finance and payments. According to the report, the market capitalization of Solana-based real-world assets (RWA) increased by 43% quarter-over-quarter in the first quarter to $2.01 billion. This growth is attributed to firms like BlackRock, Ondo Finance, and Franklin Templeton introducing tokenized funds, ETFs, and stock products to the Solana ecosystem. Additionally, global payment companies including Visa, Stripe, PayPal, and Western Union are utilizing Solana for their stablecoin payment and remittance infrastructure. Messari projected that Solana's low fees, fast settlement speeds, and the upcoming Alpenglow upgrade—which is expected to improve transaction finality to around 150ms—could positively impact its expansion into institutional finance and AI-based applications.